Headlines

Preds Recall Teemu Laakso From Milwaukee

by
Press Release
/ Nashville Predators

Instant Analysis

With the Preds only carrying six defensemen on the NHL roster, they recalled Laakso as a precaution against Kevin Klein's status for tonight's game. Klein was injured while blocking a shot late in Tuesday night's game at San Jose.

Laakso's game is very similar is style to Klein's -- a solid defensive-defenseman. Laakso had been paired with Jonathon Blum for the majority of the season in Milwaukee, prior to Blum's recall to the NHL. The on-ice familiarity could benefit the Preds if Klein is unable to go tonight as Laakso could be slid into the slot on the defensive depth chart and the other two d-pairings could remain unchanged. It also helps that the Preds coaches have a familiarity and comfort level with Laakso; he opened last season on the NHL roster and had a strong look again during Training Camp this season. --Jay Levin, NashvillePredators.com

Nashville, Tenn. (March 10, 2011) – Nashville Predators President of Hockey Operations/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Teemu Laakso (TEE-moo LAK-soh) from Milwaukee (AHL) under emergency conditions.

Laakso, 23 (8/27/87), has appeared in one game for the Predators this season, playing in Nashville’s 1-0 victory at Dallas on Oct. 23. He saw his first NHL action a season ago, when he suited up for seven games, going pointless with two penalty minutes. Now in his third North American professional season, the Tuusula, Finland native has 22 points (3g-19a) in 58 games, in addition to ranked among the defensive league leaders in plus/minus rating (+16). Drafted 78th overall (third round) in the 2005 Entry Draft, Laakso is one of four players from that draft (Cody Franson, Cal O’Reilly and Patric Hornqvist) currently on the Predators roster.

After a four-game road trip the took the team through Western Canada and made a stop in California, the Preds continue their March to the Playoffs, playing 12 of their final 15 regular-season games on home ice, starting tonight with a College Night matchup against the Minnesota Wild where students showing their college ID at the Bridgestone Arena Box receive a $10 upper level ticket or a $25 lower level ticket. When the Preds hit the Bridgestone Arena ice this Saturday to take on the Colorado Avalanche, they will be showing their support for the National Hockey League’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiative with the second of two We Care for Kids benefit nights held this season – the first of which occurred this past October. Fans wishing to join the fight against cancer and donate to the Nashville Predators pediatric cancer research grant can do so at nashvillepredators.com/beatcancer.